The Woven Wood Doors are finally in place. So much for March deadlines. The restaurant is under a trial opening this week. Last post was 6/11, and the thread was started 4/13.

The doors look fabulous - We are very happy. The letter "A" that is also the handles is not as nice as the cast bronze I was told was to be the door pulls. This is 5/16" steel or so, and not so nice to the touch, with hard square edges that are bright compared to the faces.

The worst part is that whomever - the handle maker we think - used steel hardware store crap to mount the letters. Went clear thru the door!! He did not know about studs and blind mounts. I think I hear a "not my job" in the echoes.

The finish is Sikkens with a glaze to
accent the depth.

Unfortunately, the place has a dress code (!?!), so my colleague and I cannot saunter in and order up a drink at the bar and admire the doors from the inside. I would have blown the dust off my shoulders....

Thanks for all the nice remarks along the way. I am now sketching about with hopes for a Celtic Knot. I need to find a wealthy Irish mobster with cash to burn....

I like the design/shape of the handles (likely logo) but screwing them flat against the panels isn't the greatest and would concern me for issues over time but that's on the handle guy and who ever gave the go ahead.

Thanks again for the comments. Positive feedback form peers is so much more respected than from others.

The doors sold for $15,557.00, with hinges and hinge and deadbolt prep. Finish included ($2200). Frame, install, and handles excluded. All 10/4 pattern grade Honduras (245 b/f), and 90 hours in the shop, 8 hours in drawing, and countless hours in our heads. I budgeted 90 hours, and we hit it on the nose, including all the problem solving as earlier described.

The finish is by IndyCraft Painting (https://indycraft.com) and is Sikkens on the exterior, and is sprayed and glazed. The interior is the same look, though lacquer.

So far, only the valet parking boys have opened the doors from the outside now that the place is open. If they had just used 1/2" steel and eased all the edges, the letters would look and feel so much better. And used hidden fasteners. If they would just put me in charge......

I never understand why different trades/shops arent more willing or eager to simplify and better their offering to the customer/contractor.

Weve had mixed success reaching out to other shops feeding material to a job that we are going to interface with. If I were that metal guy your number would have been the first I asked for to reach out and see if you had any input on how youd like my work to interface with yours especially of it wasn't called out in a drawing.

Beautiful doors. The job probably was way over budget by the time they got to the pulls, too bad. Seem like low class pulls.
Guess I can't go there either, don't own a coat & tie. Why would anyone want to tie a gaudy rag around their neck?
I'm headed for IWF this week.